Car-coupling



UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

SIRON LONZE REEVES, QF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,615, dated May '7, 1889.

Application filed February 23, 1889. Serial No. 300,913. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIRON LONZE REEVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relatesto improvements in car-couplings; and it con sists in a certain novel construction and combination of parts fully described hereinafter, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is perspective View of a coupler embodying the improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the draw-bar.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the draw'-head,which is provided with a flared or V-shaped recess, B, in its front end, and vertical shoulders O C are formed onopposite sides of'the said recess near the extremity of the draw-head.

D D designate vertical leaves, which are mounted on vertical pivots E E in rear of the said shoulders, the width of each leaf being slightly more than half the width of the mouth of the draw-head, so that both leaves cannot at the same time assume positions across the mouth of the draw-head. Shoulders d d are formed at the top and bottom of the mouth of the draw-head to prevent the said leaves from swinging outward far enough to bring their extreme edges in contact.

Small supporting-blocks F F are arranged in the center or apex of the V-shaped recess in the draw-head, and theirouter ends-,which are adjacent to the free edges of the swinging leaves, are tapered, as shown. The funct-ion of these blocks is to support the end of the link which is within the draw-head, to prevent the same from sliding down out of the proper or horizontal position.

G designates the coupling-linlgwhich is provided at its ends with the tapered arrowheads 9 9, having shoulders at their inner ends, which are engaged by the free edges of the leaves. This link will separate the leaves as it enters the recess of the draw-head; but after its shoulders have passed the free edges of the leaves the latter swing outward and engage the said shoulders.

Springs H H are arranged in rear of the leaves to hold them normally pressed outward against the shoulders d d in position to engage the shoulders'of the link.

K designates a draw-bar, which operates in a horizontal perforation, I, near the bottom of the draw-head, and is provided at its front firmly end with a beveled or wedge-shaped head, L,

which is arranged in front of the swinging leaves. If this draw-bar is drawn rearwardly, its head is drawn between the free edges of the leaves, thereby separating the latter and enabling the link to be removed from the draw-head. The rear free end of this drawbar is connected to a crank-shaft, M, which is mounted in, suitable bearings in the drawhead, and this crank-shaft is provided at its ends on opposite'sides of the draw-head with the crank-arms N N, whereby the said shaft may be rotated to operate the draw-bar.

The operation of this improved coupler will now be readily seen. The link is guided to the free edges of the leaves by the flared sides of the recess and the inclined leaves, the outer sides of the latter being flush with the shoulders C O, and the tapered -head.of the link separates the adjacent edges of the leaves and.

passes between them, and when they resume their normal positions the head of the link is engaged. To disengage the link the crankshaft is rotated, thereby retracting the drawbar and separating the free edges of the leaves.

Having thus described the invention I claim- 1. In a car-coupling, thecombination, with the draw-head provided with a recess in its front end, of the spring-actuated swinging leaves pivoted therein and inclined rearwardly toward their adjacent edges, and the draw-barprovided with a. beveled or wedgeshaped head, which is arranged between the leaves to enable the latter to be separated, substantially as specified.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head provided with a recess in its front end, of the swinging spring-actuated leaves pivoted therein and inclined rearwardly toward their adjacent edges, the drawbar provided with awedge-shaped head which is. arranged between the leaves, and the crank shaft 'mounted on the draw-head and conneoted to the draw-bar, whereby the latter may be drawn rearwardly to separate the leaves, substantially as specified.

3. In a oar-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head provided with a flared or V- shaped recess having shoulders O O at its sides and shoulders cl (1 at its top and bottom, of the swinging spring-actuated leaves pivoted in rear of the shoulders C C and normally hearing at their upper and lower edges against the shoulders 61 d, and the draw-bar provided with a wedge-shaped head arranged between the leaves, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the draw-head, the

leaves pivoted therein, and the draW- bar' SIRON LONZE REEVES.

Witnesses:

T. F. FLYNN, R. A. VARNEDOE. 

